Bank on Ballyamber
In reality, he is far from a beginner at this game, having a bucket of experience under his belt and and a high rating of 128.
Willie Mullins’ gelding made a promising reappearance in a far better race, the Drinmore Chase, on this track last month.
He jumped and travelled well for most of the journey, before fading in the straight to finish 14 lengths and a length third behind Nil Desperandum and Catalpo Cargo. The eight-year-old should find this a lot easier!
Triple bumper success story, The Posh Paddy, makes his eagerly awaited debut over jumps in the Curragha Maiden Hurdle.
He’s scored at Clonmel, Roscommon and Cheltenham and though you can pick holes in the form, Tony Mullins’ charge clearly has an engine and will get professional handling for the first time.
Lotomore Lad, who did us a favour when scoring by a short head at Punchestown last week, can defy a 7lbs rise in the weights in the Warrenstown Handicap Hurdle, particularly if he jumps better on this occasion.
Hegarty, third to Masriyna’s Article at Fairyhouse on his first outing of the campaign, gets the vote in the Bumper.
At Cork tomorrow Beef Or Salmon, as expected, is set to contest the two mile O’Connell Transport Hilly Way Chase.
Of course the trip is on the short side, but he won this contest in a canter last year and comes here in good heart, having landed the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown last Sunday.
Kicking King can redeem a somewhat tarnished reputation in the Fermoy Novice Chase. One of the best young hurdlers in the country last season, he was confidently expected to make a winning start over fences at Punchestown four weeks ago.
Tom Taaffe’s gelding jumped brilliantly, but faded rather dramatically from the third last to finish a remote fifth behind Anxious Moments.
Perhaps, a lack of fitness caught him out and Kicking King is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, for now.
The frustrating Native Churchtown, two miles round here may prove ideal, gets the vote in the Mallow Maiden Hurdle.
At Navan tomorrow, Solerina cannot be opposed in the Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle.
This progressive mare produced a power-packed display to beat stable companion, Florida Coast, by eight lengths in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last time.
Xenophon, successful in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown last season, is fancied to make a winning debut over fences in the Kevin McManus Bookmakers Novice Chase.
Kildare, who found two miles too sharp when no match for Kahuna at Punchestown, gets the nap in the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle.
